Photo: Jengod · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Gardena is healthier than 56% of U.S. towns
Gardena differs from California on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 12 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Gardena. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Gardena
More Gardena adults lack emotional support
1 in 3 adults lack social or emotional support (34.8%), vs 28.6% across California. Loneliness is above the state too: 42.2%, vs 37.3% across California. Mind & connection ↓
Diabetes and stroke run high in Gardena
1 in 7 adults have diabetes (14%), vs 11.7% across California. 1 in 28 adults have had a stroke (3.6%), vs 3.1% across California. Conditions ↓
Cancer and depression are less common in Gardena
Gardena runs below California on cancer (5.1% vs 6.4%) and depression (16.9% vs 20.1%). Conditions ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the California figure falls outside Gardena’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to B+.
What’s behind Gardena’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gardena is healthier than 56% of U.S. towns, #475 of 847 in California. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 94% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 18%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Gardena’s median household income is $84,803; among the 10,405 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($64K–$106K), it’s healthier than 51%, about where its income would put it.
How Gardena adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Gardena runs above California.
2 in 5 Gardena adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Out of every 100 Gardena adults…
Gardena runs below CA on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Gardena
1 hospital and 2 community health centers in Gardena, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Gardena; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
1.2 miles of trails across 8 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Gardena adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
18.4% of Gardena adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Gardena and the towns around it
Gardena’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 4 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gardena | B | 25.7% | 14% | 10.9% | CDC place |
| Los Angeles | B− | 27.3% | 11.9% | 11.9% | CDC place |
| Torrance | A | 20.3% | 10.6% | 8% | CDC place |
| Alondra Park | B− | 26.8% | 12.2% | 12.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Gardena adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Gardena
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Gardena is better than California on 4 and worse on 12; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Gardena’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Gardena | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.3%22.5–26.1 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.9%12.7–15.1 | 13.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.7%14.4–17 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 25.7%23.1–28.4 | 27.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14%12.7–15.4 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 32.6%30.5–34.6 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.9%35.6–40.2 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 20.1%18.5–21.7 | 20.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.1%8.2–10 | 9.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.1%4.7–5.5 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.4%4.9–5.9 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 4.7%4.3–5.2 | 5.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.6%3.3–3.8 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.6%8.7–12.5 | 10.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.9%9.8–12.2 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 27.6%25.2–30 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13%11.6–14.5 | 15.3% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.5%35.5–41.3 | 35.1% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.7%9.6–12 | 10.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.8%71.5–75.9 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 58.7%56.1–61.1 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86%84.6–87.3 | 85.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.2%71.9–76.3 | 71.3% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 55.6%52.1–58.9 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.8%70.8–80 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 16.9%15.3–18.7 | 20.1% | 20.6% | Better |
| Feel lonely | 42.2%39.5–45.1 | 37.3% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 34.8%32.3–37.6 | 28.6% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 21.6%19.8–23.6 | 17.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17.8%16.1–19.5 | 14.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.8%7–8.8 | 7.3% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.3%9.4–11.4 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 18.4%16.7–20.3 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.5%29.2–33.8 | 30.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.3%14–16.7 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.6%13.4–15.9 | 14.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.4%4.9–6 | 5.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6.4%5.9–6.9 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.5%7.8–9.3 | 8.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.4%4.1–4.8 | 3.9% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the California figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Gardena
Is Gardena a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gardena is healthier than 56% of U.S. towns: B for health, #475 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 51%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Gardena?
CDC estimates 25.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.1% and 28.4%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Gardena?
Memorial Hospital of Gardena in Gardena, 0.7 miles in a straight line from Gardena’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Gardena have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.6–12%), against 10.6% across California.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Gardena more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Gardena.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The California figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.